John, it’s Angus King,

When I first came to Washington, I was surprised by how little my colleagues in the Senate and I knew about each other. In Maine, we call ourselves a big, small town because, even if you run into someone you don’t know, you likely know someone who knows them. I figured one way to help bridge the divide in our politics is to bring that same sense of community to D.C.

So for the past few years, as often as possible, I’ve made it a regular habit to pick up some ribs from the local BBQ joint and invite four or five senators to our little row house a few blocks from work in D.C. for dinner — always bipartisan, never any staff, and no press. (That’s why you’ve never seen a picture and won’t see one here!)

Since we started, we’ve hosted over 50 Senators, from Elizabeth Warren to Ted Cruz. Of course, we might disagree on various issues. But by coming together over a meal, we can laugh (a lot), talk, and share personal stories. I’ll never forget one of them pulling me aside and saying how they’d never spoken with a fellow colleague until that night! I feel these evenings help build the relationships and trust necessary to get things done.

I’m committed to bringing people together from all over the political spectrum because when we do, it makes us more effective in finding solutions to our country’s greatest challenges. If you’re with me and believe it’s important to keep independent-minded leadership in the Senate, will you chip in to support my campaign for reelection this year?

You may not see much about it on my Instagram or in the press, but I’ve seen firsthand how a few racks of ribs can go a long way toward finding common ground and helping us to accomplish bigger and better things for the American people.

Thank you for your support,

Angus King